Literally meaning ‘cow’s ear,’ the quant town of Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka is formed by the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers and the favourite haunt of Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars, and beach buffs. Om Beach, one of Gokarna’s five famed beaches, takes the shape of an “Om”, a Hindu spiritual symbol.

The other beaches, wedged between gigantic cliffs that protrude like delicate fingers into the sea, are Gokarna, Kudle, Half Moon, and Paradise. The drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is a scenic delight with rocky mountains and the Western Ghats on one side, and the Arabian Sea on the other. Adventurous tourists must be prepared for a bit of cliff-scrambling in this coastal town.